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HB 6161

Townships: charter; conflict of interest procedure for township officials; require. Amends sec. 7 of 1947 PA 359 (MCL 42.7).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Noah Arbit and 3 co-sponsors

HB 6161 requires charter townships to formalize meeting rules, prohibit voting when a conflict exists via required abstentions with public disclosure.

bill electronically reproduced 07/03/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 6161

Overview

  • Bill: HB 6161
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Jurisdiction: Michigan
  • Title: Townships: charter; conflict of interest procedure for township officials; require
  • Introduced: July 3, 2026
  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Denise Mentzer; Co-sponsors: Rep. Brad Slagh, Rep. Noah Arbit, Rep. Kimberly Edwards
  • Committee: Government Operations

Purpose and Intent

HB 6161 amends the Charter Township Act (1947 PA 359, MCL 42.7) to address the procedures for township board meetings and to codify specific rules related to conflict of interest abstentions by township board members. The primary aims appear to be:
- Clarifying meeting scheduling, notice, and conduct requirements for charter townships.
- Establishing or clarifying rules around abstentions for conflicts of interest to ensure transparency and proper governance.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Regular and special meetings

    • The township board must designate by resolution the time, date, and place of regular meetings and must hold at least one regular meeting each month.
    • If a regular meeting is on a holiday, the meeting must occur at the same time and place on the next business day (non-Saturday, non-Sunday, non-holiday).

  • Special meetings

    • A special meeting may be called by the township clerk on the written request of the supervisor or two board members, with at least 24 hours’ written notice to all board members.
    • The notice must specify the time, place, and purpose and be served personally or left at the member’s usual residence.

  • Open meetings compliance

    • Business at meetings must be conducted in a public meeting held in compliance with the Open Meetings Act (1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261–15.275).
    • Public notice requirements must align with the Open Meetings Act.

  • Conduct of business and voting

    • Four members constitute a quorum; in a quorum shortage, two members may adjourn a meeting to a later date.
    • The board shall determine its own rules and keep journal minutes in English.
    • Votes on the passage of ordinances and the adoption of resolutions and ordinances shall be recorded as yes/no, with the exception that unanimous votes only need to reflect that they were unanimous.
    • Generally, a member present must vote on questions decided by the board unless excused by unanimous consent of the other members if the member believes a conflict of interest exists.

  • Conflict of interest and abstentions

    • If a board member determines a conflict of interest exists that impacts the member’s duty to the township, the member may abstain from voting on the affected question.
    • The member must announce an intent to abstain and disclose the factual basis for the abstention on the official record.
    • If a member indicates they wish to be appointed to fill a township vacancy, they may abstain from voting on the appointment to fill the vacancy, and must be recognized immediately for purposes of abstention.

  • Public records and FOIA

    • Any writing prepared, owned, used, in possession of, or retained by the board in performing official functions must be made available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

  • Attendance and conduct

    • The township board may compel attendance of board members and township officers at regular or special meetings by a vote of at least two members, and may enforce orderly conduct.
    • Misconduct in office by any board member or township officer can be charged; the township marshal acts as sergeant-at-arms for enforcement.

Who May Be Affected

  • Charter townships and their boards of trustees
  • Township supervisors and other township officers
  • Individuals serving on township boards (potential abstainers) and applicants for vacant township offices
  • Public attendees and residents subject to FOIA requirements

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Effective procedural framework for regular and special meetings (notice, time, and conduct)
  • Explicitly ties to Open Meetings Act requirements for transparency
  • Introduces or codifies a formal process for abstaining due to conflicts of interest, including record disclosure
  • Aligns FOIA publication requirements with board records and actions
  • No specific fiscal provisions or funding changes are included in the text provided; the focus is governance, transparency, and meeting procedures

Potential Impacts

  • Increased clarity on meeting scheduling and quorum handling for charter townships.
  • Enhanced transparency in voting when conflicts of interest exist, through mandatory abstention procedures and public disclosure.
  • Strengthened public accessibility of official records and meeting materials via FOIA requirements.
  • Possible administrative burden for township clerks and boards to maintain compliant notice, minutes, and abstention disclosures.

If you’d like, I can compare these provisions to current law or draft a quick briefing for township officials on how to implement the abstention and conflict-of-interest procedures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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